Pollinator Posts by May Chen
It’s a clear crisp fall morning at Skyline Gardens. Our Pale Swallowtail caterpillar B2 is still on the same Coffeeberry stem, about 5 inches from the branch tip. At least it has emerged from
A Common Sickleleg, Asemosyrphus polygrammus (family Syrphidae) visits a Coyote Brush in bloom. Little information is available about this species of hover fly, except that the larvae are rat-tail maggots. Rat-tail maggots are the larval stage of
Our Pale Swallowtail caterpillar B2 has disappeared from its previous perch on its Coffeeberry host plant. It looks like it has eaten part of the leaf at the tip. It’s good to know that B2
Our Pale Swallowtail caterpillar B2 is no longer on the stem of Poison Oak it was on yesterday. It’s going to be a challenge finding this adventurous caterpillar on the move. Pale Swallowtail Papilio
A Funnel Weaver Spider (family Agelenidae) is resting on its horizontal web right outside its funnel retreat on a Coyote Brush, Baccharis pilularis. This is a rare sight, as these fast and elusive spiders are hardly
We had a sprinkling of rain last night, taking out every bit of pollution from the air. Aah! The mosses and lichens on the oak tree trunk have plumped and greened up with the moisture.
One of the most common flies in the garden, the Woodlouse Fly, Stevenia deceptoria (family Rhinophoridae) visits everything that is in bloom. I encounter these parasitoid flies more often than I see their host, the pill bugs.
What difference a day makes! We have gone from stifling heat to chilly overcast skies overnight. Not a good day to observe insects, I know, but the caterpillars would still be there! I decide to
9:05 am. Uh oh, where’s B2? Staring at its silk pad on the Coffeeberry leaf I have a sinking feeling. B2, our Pale Swallowtail caterpillar is not mature enough to go off to pupate yet.
I love the open vistas at Inspiration Point in the Berkeley hills, but invariably my attention is drawn to the human impacts on the landscape. Why has this large Coyote Brush, Baccharis pilularis next to
It’s 11:40 am when I reach our Pale Swallowtail B2’s coffeeberry. I have a terrible time locating the caterpillar as it is hidden in dappled shade at this hour. I am glad that its home
To avoid the heat, I take my walk in the Reinhardt Regional Park in the shade of redwood trees this morning. Near the entrance a perfect orb web over the Nine Bark by the paved
Brush clearing is probably still going on at the Skyline Gardens, so I decide to go for a walk at Inspiration Point instead. Before I even step through the entrance gate, I put my hands
Some of the larger, older Coffeeberry shrubs are still holding on to their ripening berries. I don’t see much fruit set on the younger shrubs. Why? A male Western Calligrapher, Toxomerus occidentalis (family Syrphida) has landed on
Hey, our Pale Swallowtail caterpillar B2 on the Coffeeberry leaf has turned around to face away again. It looks rather elongated today, with the white marking on the back stretching apart and fading. It’s
What a cutie! Our Pale Swallowtail caterpillar B2 has turned around on its home leaf on the Coffeeberry shrub to face the front, giving me a better look at its false eye-spots. The fake eyes
A crisp, cool morning at Skyline Gardens. Our little Pale Swallowtail caterpillar B2 no longer resembles bird poop today. Its brown body has acquired a faint blue cast. Pale Swallowtail Papilio eurymedon Lucas, 1852
Our little Pale Swallowtail caterpillar B2 is almost completely green today, just as Alan has predicted! Pale Swallowtail Papilio eurymedon Lucas, 1852 | Butterflies and Moths of North America A large orb web is strung
Ooh, our Pale Swallowtail caterpillar B2 is still on its home leaf, basking in the sun! Its silk pad on the Coffeeberry leaf has dried out nicely. It amazes me that the little thing can
The air has been scrubbed clean by the light rain early this morning. It’s exhilarating to see the garden refreshed after the long, parched summer. Arriving at the Coffeeberry shrub, Frangula californica, it’s a delight
Although the Elegant Tarweed, Madia elegans is still in bloom, few insects are visiting them. The only bees I see these days are the Honey Bees, Apis mellifera (family Apidae). And most of them are dark,
When I first came across this scene on a small Coast Tarweed at the edge of the trail, I thought I was seeing a courting pair of Common Tree Crickets, Oecanthus sp. (family Gryllidae). Closer
It’s a clear, crisp fall morning. I decide to explore the northern section of Skyline Gardens from the Steam Train entrance. As I come down the steps from the entrance, I am greeted by
What a relief to have clean air again! I am thrilled to be back at Skyline Gardens on a cool, fall day. Sadly, Bumps, our Pale Swallowtail caterpillar is no longer on its Coffeeberry